New Delhi: Japan`s Taro Daniel grabbed his first ATP title after beating Tunisian Malek Jaziri 7-6(4) 6-4 in the Istanbul Open final on Sunday. Daniel, who entered the tournament ranked 114th, and Jaziri, ranked 78th, were both competing in their first ATP final.


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Jaziri, who beat world number four Marin Cilic en route to the final, started strongly and served for the first set with the score at 5-4 but failed as his 25-year-old opponent stepped up to level the scores, eventually force a tiebreak and win the set.


The situation was reversed in the second set as Daniel charged to a 5-4 lead and failed to capitalize on three match points before finally converting the fourth. "Obviously really happy. I think today was a great match, a lot of long rallies from the beginning until the end," Daniel said after lifting the trophy.


"Very happy. I`m obviously pretty surprised that I suddenly won an ATP (title). But I guess things like this happen." Daniel is expected to reach a career-high ranking of 82 after his victory.